Anticonvulsants are used in adults to treat certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. This medicine is sometimes prescribed for other uses; such as pain syndromes. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Top of page

General Information

This information is for educational purposes only. Not every known side effect, adverse effect, or drug interaction is in this database. If you have questions about your medicines, talk to your healthcare provider.

To minimize side effects, take the very first dose at bedtime. Then take this medication at evenly spaced times throughout the day and night to ensure a constant level of the medicine in your body. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Take this medicine exactly as prescribed on your prescription label. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take this medicine even if you feel well. Abruptly stopping the drug can cause seizures. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.Top of page

Missed Dose

Take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double doses.Top of page

Storage

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.Top of page

Possible Side Effects

Some common side effects reported with this medicine include:

drowsiness

headache

fatigue

blurred vision

tremor or muscle spasms

anxiety

uncontrolled back-and-forth and/or rolling eye movements

Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This is general information and should not in any event be construed as specific instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. The reader is advised to check with their health care provider before making any changes in their drug regimen.

Was on it for mood, worked great until I started
to get a rash. had to stop taking it. Bummer.

ScarletPimpernelGrand Poohbah

Registered: November 2013Location: CAPosts: 1900

Sat June 21, 2014

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10

PROS:

Stabilized my mood

CONS:

Possible bad side effect

This med is awesome. It really did stabilize my moods. My Pdoc increased dosage slowly to avoid possible side effects.

Sat April 5, 2014

Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1

PROS:

Slight help with sleep.

CONS:

Mild rash, acne, anxiety and agitation.

I took Lamictal for 3 months. It gave me a mild, itchy rash and caused acne. It helped my sleep some, but the stuff made me terribly anxious and agitated. Not a medication for me, but I have heard many people say Lamictal helps them. I'm so glad to be off the stuff.

BPD GhostMember

Registered: February 2014Location: USAPosts: 33

Sun February 23, 2014

Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1

PROS:

Calmed my moods. It seemed to really work.

CONS:

I got Stephens Johnson syndrome. It was a very painful and horrifying rash that was very dangerous.

I didn't know what was causing a terrible rash so I dealt with it for a few weeks. As soon as they found out and took me off the drug, the rash subsided and finally went away. I wish it hadn't have had such bad side effect because I really felt a different.

ginaaa22Member

Registered: January 2014Location: Toledo, OHPosts: 210

Wed January 29, 2014

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $10.00| Rating: 8

PROS:

cheap price

CONS:

doesnt help much that i can tell

doesnt help too much that i can tell

badwolf4Newly Joined

Registered: January 2014Location: CaliforniaPosts: 1

Sat January 25, 2014

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8

PROS:

Seems to help with irratitability outbreaks

CONS:

Doesn't help with all episodes

My mother pays for the medication, so who knows. It's probably good I don't know how much they spend on my treatments. It's one of the very first things that has worked for me, but I haven't tried many for mood stability.

AnxietyGirl916Member

Registered: September 2013Location: Northern CaliforniaPosts: 335

Wed January 22, 2014

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8

PROS:

Helped stabilize mood

CONS:

Drowsiness

Did wonderful things for mood stabilization.

dillpickle1983Poohbah

Registered: January 2011Location: Erie, PennsylvaniaPosts: 1343

Sun November 3, 2013

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

PROS:

Controls my moods

CONS:

I have none

Controls my moods very well. Other than that I don't have anything else to say about it. I take 200mg.

usehernameMember

Registered: October 2012Location: in my headPosts: 231

Sun September 1, 2013

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $10.00| Rating: 10

PROS:

fast relief from the abyss of deep depression

CONS:

???? don't know yet

Haven't been on it long enough to be sure, but I think it successfully brought me out of one of the worst lows I've ever experienced in a matter of days... Now there's just this mania thing... lol

transientsoulMember

Registered: August 2013Location: CLEVELANDOHIO!!Posts: 140

Fri August 23, 2013

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

PROS:

great mood stabilizer

CONS:

?rash?

When doc said I must stop taking Lamictal I begged him not to take it away because it was "the only medication that made me feel normal" - but he wanted to err on the side of caution. I had developed a rash on my hands and around behind my ears and down my neck. "The Lamictal Rash" is a big no no, as others have said in their posts. However, it is worth pointing out that just prior to getting this rash, I was in my niece's hot tub, floating around on my back. She used Bromine instead of chlorine in the tub. This is relavent because after I was off the Lamictal because of "the rash" I again went a-floatin' in the hot tub... and guess what? I again got the same rash. Bromine sensitivity... or Lamictal? I thought it was a great medication and was sorry to go off - and that's saying something because bad med experiences have left me very doubtful and negative toward most pharmeceuticals.

Worst side effects ever...it also did not help my anxiety or depression, just caused me to become quite suicidal.

Thu May 2, 2013

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $3.00| Rating: 6

PROS:

I'm less agitated, less prone to manic attacks which have been bad

CONS:

So far well my sex drive is none, but since I've been single for many years thats not an issue

I was prescribed this med when I was in inpatient psychiatric hospital due to my manic episode last year upon learning my rent would increase by 200 dollars. It has helped a lot. Cause right now I'm in a stressful situation of having to move into an apartment and I only have 30 days to be out. My landlord terminated my lease where I live but its still stressful none the less. Also I'm real lonely I'm pretty isolated living here in Washington State its hard to make friends here. Its clicquey like high school so I'm living with a lot of stigma.
The meds help some with that.

notALICEMember

Registered: March 2013Location: USAPosts: 315

Wed May 1, 2013

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $60.00| Rating: 8

PROS:

Started to feel better

CONS:

Rash. Had to stop taking immediately.

I was one of the rare people who broke out in a rash & had to discontinue.

This is my second week on the medication. I feel some relief from my depression, however it has not helped with my OCD or anxiety. I was started on 25 mg for one week and I've been taking 50 mg for the past week. I feel that my diagnosis is wrong and that's why I have had a difficult time finding a medication that relieves the constant distress that I feel. I am sensitive to medication and it's guaranteed that I will experience side effects.

happymefinallyNew Member

Registered: March 2012Posts: 1

Fri March 30, 2012

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10

PROS:

Finally after being misdiagnosed and tried evrythinng under the sun, THIS RREALLY WORKS 5+yrs

CONS:

Don't think ur ok and stop taking it if your Bi-Polor and PTSD u'll never be ok, and u will revert back to HELL

I Finally got the right diagnosis after being not right all my life,sexual abuse,ages 5-14 drug abuser,alcoholic sexual abuse survivor, U name it. After trying every med under the sun finally in 03 I was given lamotrigine, aka Lamictal took it till 2010 and thought I am all better now, married , in love, happy I don't need it I am all better. had major meltdown due to stress put my PTSD in full swing, got back on it and am now building back up to my 200mg a day.If u have any of that don't fool urself and ever thing ur gonna be ok, it don't go away, Mental illness doesn't go away I am 49 yrs old truest me I know. Don't stop taking it for me a miracle drug, treats all of my "ISSUE'S" Thank God, and God Bless There is hope give it a chance and time

I love Lamictal- its my favorite mood stabilizer. It is the one medication never changed in my cocktail. I've taken it for about four years and haven't really had any noticable side effects. The first couple days/weeks I was a little shaky but not anymore. I feel safe on it, like it's my friend in this crazy world of psych meds. I do feel it keep the periods of stability longer and the depression less severe. Definite recommendation!

MerlinGrand Poohbah

Registered: May 2004Location: Alberta, CanadaPosts: 1815

Tue August 30, 2011

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $62.32| Rating: 9

PROS:

It is effective in treating the depressive symptoms of bipolar.

CONS:

It can cause a serious rash.

I have been very happy with lamotrogine and find, for me, it has very few side effects, with the possible exceptions of dry mouth and nausea which could also be attributed other medication I take. I did have to augment it with a low dosage of citalompram to relieve all symptoms of depression though.

I have been on citalopram for about 10 years for sever depression and was recently diagnosed with bipolar II. So they prescribed Lamictal starting at the lowest dose of 25mg for 2 weeks then increasing it by 25mg. The only thing the psych and my doctor was worried about was if I got the rash. They didn't under any circumstances say it could wash out the citalopram out of my system which I have depended on to keep me rational.
By the 6th week I was feeling crazy, racing thoughts and severe pain waking me up at night, fluttery feelings in my chest and so teary and depressed that I went back to another doctor, after I realised it had to be the new drugs, and begged to stop taking them. I was and still am so angry they didn't warn me that citalopram might become less effective so I could watch out for that. I was just watching for the dam rash thinking this was the miracle drug that could be the answer to everything.
Im happy to hear it works for most but if others are trying it while on other drugs, you need to be aware.

1D10TMember

Registered: June 2011Location: Seattle, WAPosts: 113

Fri August 19, 2011

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 5

PROS:

Quick to take affect (Name Brand)

CONS:

Back Spasm's (Generic), Expensive (Name Brand)

I have taken both Lamictal ODT and also the generic. The name brand worked very well but I could not afford it, however I ended up on the generic version and it never worked and as I went up in dosage I started getting debilitating back spasm's.I know the spasm's are rare but for me they started at the 50mg mark.

+Fight+The+Illness+Member

Registered: August 2011Location: Charleston, SCPosts: 72

Sun August 7, 2011

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7

PROS:

CONS:

I've been taking Lamictal with Zoloft for about a year now, and it's been doing pretty well for me. But my psychiatrist is telling me that it's possible that Zoloft is causing more manic phases than I usually experience, but he also says that Lamictal makes the mania a little bit less severe even though I have more manic phases. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in June 2010, and Lamictal was part of the first medication combination I've been on with adjustments to the dosage. My only real complaint is that I wish the pill wasn't so big and hard to swallow.

Overall, this is a good product. My specialist decided to put me on this drug in view of my family history.

hazelstar721New Member

Registered: November 2010Posts: 1

Sun November 21, 2010

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $70.00| Rating: 10

PROS:

effective

CONS:

none at present

I initially started at 100mg by mistake of the nurse but was then changed to the five week titrition pack from that is help me get more control but still have some ups and down. My doctor has now increased my dose to 200mg. I take the ODT which i find pretty pleasant. This you have to give time to start noticing a difference the time i started i was having extreme highs and lose which was causing major problems with my job. I currently also take wellbutrin with it and they seemed to be a good combination. On certain occasions I take lorazpam and they all work in harmony. I have read a review that someone said missing a dose they notice it and I find that also to be true. If your like me you don't need to be missing a dose. Now time to see is the 200mg a day puts me normal again.

SultrysorrowMember

Registered: October 2007Location: ArizonaPosts: 77

Thu September 2, 2010

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6

PROS:

Reduces Mania and curbs depression

CONS:

Tolerable nausea while titrating up dosage

Instead of going straight to Lithium my psychiatrist put me on this medication for now. The main side effect for me is nausea which is somewhat tolerable. I've noticed a change of not being so manic. And triggers that would regularly put me in a depressive state don't seem as bad. Not sure how high my dosage will go in the long run. But so far so good.

somethingintheway13Newly Joined

Registered: December 2008

Sun June 13, 2010

Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1

PROS:

none

CONS:

excessive anger, insomia, impulsive, felt like a zombie

I took this medication 2 times. The first time i felt like a zombie, i had no emotions what so ever and my brain was moving so slowly. The 2nd time i took it, my personality changed completely. I was angry every single moment. I had very strong homicidal tendencies and i was vey violent

sunnydayJunior Member

Registered: May 2006Location: WisconsinPosts: 16

Wed May 5, 2010

Recommended? No |
Total Spent: $100.00| Rating: 2

PROS:

helped with depression

CONS:

caused a massive rash

helped with depression/ bipolar but I got a massive rash from it and had to quit taking it

oniyashesxNewly Joined

Registered: April 2010

Wed April 7, 2010

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6

PROS:

No side effects, felt great while taking it

CONS:

Gave me Steven-Johnson Syndrome

i had hoped this would be my miracle drug like many others have said it was theirs. no side effects at all. took it for 11 days, felt great, then out of nowhere developed a nasty rash on my feet. (yesterday).. called my psychiatrist and told her, and she told me to stop taking it. today i woke up with my feet blood red, covered in blisters, could barely walk. my entire body covered in hives. lips swollen. they diagnosed me with Stephens-Johnson Syndrome. so painful But everyone reacts to medications differently, so i do recommend it because ive heard so many good things about this medication and it served me well until this.. i suggest trying it and if it doesnt work, then stop treatment.

leduNewly Joined

Registered: October 2009

Fri March 12, 2010

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 0

PROS:

able to think much more clearly, much more calm, less anger, patience, significant decrease in depression

CONS:

headaches, insomnia

I just wanted to add my new experience with this drug. I gave it another go - started with the orange starter kit. I managed to make it up to 100mg and so far its been very helpful. I started to notice a decrease in depression almost immediately, even at 25mg. Then I moved up to 50 and I noticed I was able to think more clearly, I wasn't snapping on people and I was getting involved in far fewer arguments with my boyfriend. I am now on 100mg and I keep hearing from everyone around me how much better I have been. The impulsive behaviors have almost stopped completely (not entirely). I still have bouts of depression, but they're much shorter lasting and I am now able to reason with myself and pull myself out of it before it becomes serious. I have not self-mutilated once since starting it. I have not considered suicide one time and I always thought about it before, and very seriously on many occasions. This drug has been extremely helpful for me. Extremely.

pondbcMember

Registered: July 2007Location: CanadaPosts: 270

Sun January 10, 2010

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 2

PROS:

not long enough to tell

CONS:

severe headaches and pain in upper back

I really wanted to take this! Tried on three separate occasions but ghastly headaches and pain between shoulder blades forced me to quit.

leduNewly Joined

Registered: October 2009

Fri October 30, 2009

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $35.00| Rating: 7

PROS:

I flipped out a lot less

CONS:

Made me feel like I had arthritis all over my body

I started and stopped this medication 3 separate times. It really did help me with my mood swings after a while. Things just didn't affect me like they once had, which is great. When titrating up to 100mg I noticed I had a lot of pain which felt like it was in my bones - a lot like the aches and pains when you get the flu. At the 25mg I had it and it started to fade, at the 50mg it started again, and then began to fade and then when I jumped to 100mg it as unbearable. I was never able to maintain 100mg. It's very unfortunate because I think this would have worked very well for me.

glindanorthNewly Joined

Registered: August 2008

Fri August 14, 2009

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $50.00| Rating: 8

PROS:

Greatly enhances the work of my lithium and anti-depressant

CONS:

weight gain, cognitive issues

Without Lamictal, my lithium just doesn't work very well. It also seems to enhance the effects of my antidepressant. Overall, I have tolerated it well.

runnergrrlNew Member

Registered: January 2008Posts: 1

Wed August 20, 2008

Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 3

PROS:

not sure

CONS:

Hard to swallow pill, bitter taste

Not sure this drug is doing much for me. I started it while getting started on 4 other medications, so I have no clue if this drug is really working. I am slowly tapering off of it and will be totally off of it next week, 8/27/08. I will come back and write a closing statement. Wish me luck!

CancanNewly Joined

Registered: July 2008

Tue July 29, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 0

PROS:

CONS:

My MD just put me on this med and I had a few questions about it. I have yet to be dx w/Biploar but I feel for certain that I have some possible characteristics. I am also ADHD and presently taking Aderol for that. I am very concerned about taking this medication due to the fact that it does cause some concentration problems and possible weight gain. Currently, I am working on my RN degree and 5 mths away from graduating...I don't want anything to conflict w/ my concentration. Also, I'm a avid workoutholic so the weight gain is a issue for me as well.
My moods are crazy I tell you...one min I will be great...and the next I'm just down in a hole and I can't stand it. It's ruining my marriage...and it's causing my little girl to suffer.
Any advice?

red8326Junior Member

Registered: July 2008Posts: 11

Fri July 11, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $0.60| Rating: 8

PROS:

Pulls me out of depression

CONS:

None

I have taken Lamitical for 6 months and it seems to work great for me.

darkspiralJunior Member

Registered: June 2008Posts: 17

Wed June 25, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6

PROS:

seemingly minimal side effects

CONS:

slight headache

i can only rate this a 6 for now. only been on it 2 1/2 weeks don't really feel much different other than the world is not quite as dark so maybe theres hope if i stick with it

CMalcolmNewly Joined

Registered: January 2008

Sun March 30, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8

PROS:

Really helped to stabalize the mood swings.

CONS:

Effects memory a little, easy bruising, shaking, weight loss

I love this medicine. Compared to a lot thats out there for Bipolar II, I think I'd rather take this than anything else. However, I was 120-125lbs when I started taking it a few months ago, and now I'm 110. I havent changed my exercise habbits at all or my diet, so Im pretty confident in attributing it to lamictal. I know youre not supposed to drink blah blah blah but I told my doctor I do and that I smoke pot and he didnt seem to worried. I do find that I get drunk a lot faster and a little more agitated rather than upset than before, and if i've been drinking when I wake up in the morning Im usually trembling for about an hour until I eat. Also, I bruise unusually frequently. But oh well, I can deal with all of this, its so worth it, what an amazing drug. Thank god.

boomslangJunior Member

Registered: February 2007Posts: 16

Mon March 17, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

PROS:

Helped my Bipolar I disorder, stopped mood swings, would highly recommend this medication especially over lithium can easily become toxic

CONS:

Expensive without insurance, taste is awful and dissolves quickly in water so get it down gast with cold water, some people develop a rash which can be deadly (rare)

Took FOREVER (or tough it seemed, I was just SO anxious to get on a medication that worked and so sick of trying out ones that didn't work) to get to my dose that I take not since you have to titrate it up, about 4 months if I remember correctly. I take 200mg 2x a day for Bipolar I disorder. I feel now that I don't even need it, though I do NOT stop taking it. It is a great medication and has worked wonders for me. The trick to making it go down fast without tasting it as it does dissolve in water or any other liquid almost immediately is to chug it down with cold water! The other downside is it is damn expensive if you don't have insurance so find a good job with great benefits!!! Good luck to you people I love everyone and hope you find the right medication even if Lamictal isn't for you! And watch out for the rash, if you get a rash let your doctor know right away!

This is the only medication that pulled me out of a very severe and lengthy depression. It actually made me hypomanic for a while but then it seemed to stop working so I had to increase the dose. I ended up getting ECT because the meds alone werent working. Now I take Lamictal as a maintanence med with my ECT, but I dont know whether it is one or the other or both that has caused me to have a more stable mood. I didnt have weight gain with Lamictal like I did with all the other ones. I did, and still do have a rash. It comes and goes on my neck, back, and scalp and is VERY itchy. We think it is caused by the med because I have never had this rash until the Lamictal dose was increased to 300mg. When I went down to 200mg the rash got better, but still doesnt go away completely. Overall this has been the best med for my bipolar depression, and I plan on staying on it. Update 2/18/2008: I am happy to report my rash has finally gone away. I had something else too, Hair loss. It was coming out in clumps, i was shedding all over. My pdoc said it was probably from the Lamictal. I started to take Zinc and Selenium supplements and that worked. My hair isnt falling out as bad anymore. Has anyone else had hair loss? Also I have quite a bit of aphasia, and loss of memory, but I am also undergoing ECT which is famous for memory problems so Im not certain......

12beatNewly Joined

Registered: February 2008Location: Seattle,WA

Fri February 1, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

PROS:

Very low side effects

CONS:

Cant tell if it really works

Been on this for 2 years at 200 mg a day. so far so good

SchatjeMember

Registered: January 2008Location: WA, USAPosts: 219

Mon January 28, 2008

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $1.00| Rating: 10

PROS:

controls depression and manic episodes well

CONS:

side effects - joint pain

This is the first medication I have tried that has truly helped me. I no longer suffer from extreme depression or even mild depression. I have had the less likely side effect of joint pain. For about a month and a half I felt like I had arthritis.

bindijean1Newly Joined

Registered: December 2007Location: spokane, wa

Sun December 23, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8

PROS:

no weight gain

CONS:

headache, dry mouth, and blurry vision at first

can't give it any higher due to there is no one size fits all med and combo. i also was put on serequel at night to help trick my body into sleeping all night. it worked and am currently of of it except to take about12.5mg occasionaly for anxiety. was on prozac before and wow that sure wacked me out hardly slept but extremely depressed during day

CMac73Newly Joined

Registered: December 2007

Thu December 6, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10

PROS:

Excellent for hard to treat depression

CONS:

None really, perhaps tiredness

I live in the U.K. and lamictal is not licensed for depression here (I have bipolar mixture affective), so it was hard to get. A locum from N.Z. started me and others on it and the medical profession here went against him, he went back to N.Z. Since I'm started they can't take me off it! The old quack before him was going to give me ECT :0( It has cured me and given me a new life after 15 years of wrong diagnosis and medication.

BarbarianNewly Joined

Registered: November 2007

Fri November 30, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

PROS:

Weight-neutral; the most effective drug for bipolar-depression without throwing one into mania; virtually NO SIDE EFFECTS.

CONS:

Takes forever to get up to a therapeutic dosage; also, in VERY RARE cases, a deadly rash can occur -- but only if you increase the dosage too high too soon (most doctors know how to prevent this); without effective insurance coverage, this drug is COSTLY!

This is one of the best drugs I've ever taken in my life. I converted from Depakote and Effexor -- the worst combination for bipolar mania and depression -- to Lamictal, and I noticed a HUGE difference with my depression and mania (and weight) after finally getting up to a therapeutic dosage. This drug is simply the prima donna of bipolar medications. Not only is it WEIGHT-NEUTRAL (highly unlike Depakote is), but it's more effective than most anti-depressants in treating bipolar-depression -- WITHOUT THROWING ONE INTO MANIA, as Effexor and other anti-depressants are notoriously known for. Moreover, it is as effective, if not better, at preventing manic episodes as lithium is...add on to that Lamictal's anti-depressant properties. The only reason I rate this drug a 9.0 is because it is so expensive without effective insurance. Since I'm a military veteran, I don't pay anything for it. However, I realize not everyone has effective insurance nor VA coverage. So, I rate it a 9.0.

LuLu80Member

Registered: October 2007Location: AlabamaPosts: 47

Mon November 12, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $1.67| Rating: 9

PROS:

Decreases my irritability and the severity of mood swings

CONS:

Price (my stupid insurance company!)

I'm diagnosed with depression but my doc thought Lamictal would be a good addition to Lexapro because of my irritability. Not perfect, but great improvement with no side effects.

EleoraMember

Registered: May 2006Location: Southern OntarioPosts: 264

Tue October 23, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8

PROS:

Not many side effects, doesn't make me sleepy

CONS:

Weird dreams

I've found this medication to be pretty good. Doesn't control my moods as much as I wish it would (might have to add another med), but it's pretty low on side effects. I'm at 200mg, and I haven't had any problems.

saintsandsinnersNew Member

Registered: September 2007Location: prairiesPosts: 1

Sun September 16, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

PROS:

wonderful anti-depressant

CONS:

allergic/ sensitive to drug

I am writing this in the hopes that I might save someone's life. I realised I was a manic-depressive and hand-picked Lamictal to try because of it's lack of side effects. Within the first few days, I developed a bumpy red rash on my neck. It was like sunburn/windburn. It hurt and peeled and was embarrassing. I was determined to give this drug another try though. (I got this reaction from taking as little as 15mg a day or less.) My primary doc. advised me to stop, but I stubbornly sought another way. I researched the web, which can be a wonderful tool, and one doc suggested re-trying at very, very small doses. So I literally took maybe 2mg a day for weeks and had no ill effects. I got to a psych.doc and he upped me slowly. I was at 200mg and there for a few good months. I still felt a sense of unfullfillment, but by far this was the first drug I had ever taken that resolved depression. I knew what it felt like to be "not depressed". So we decided to press the dose to 400mg. I went up 50mg about every 4 to 5 days. This may have been too fast, but I think ultimately this drug was toxic to me. I suddenly felt short of breath, in an anxious way, couldn't sleep and just felt "not myself." After 5 nights of no sleep, I cracked. My husband took me to an emergency room because I thoguht I was going to stop breathing. It was most likely a very bad panic attack/allergic reaction.(my tongue was swollen and I itched in other areas.) I was switched to a new drug and then re-met with my doc. We decided to start out slow all over again. After 2 days of taking 12mg on day one and 6mg on day 2, I felt like I was going crazy again. I was home alone and terrified. I called my doctor at home. This is something I would not normally do. I took 2mg of Ativan and still felt highly anxious. I had to make the heart-breaking choice to stop this treatment. It was the first thing that has really helped my depression and I was sad to see it go. On the second try, I had experienced suicidal thoughts because I knew I could not go on like that(not even for another day.) I have taken Accutane in the past for acne. Before it, I regurlarly had fever blisters. After, it was as if my skin dried up and I didn't get blisters anymore. I think had it not been for the Accutane, that I would have blistered and indicated a problem to Lamictal. However, it was not apparant. Only I knew that something was terribly wrong. For those who find relief with this drug, I congratulate you because it is very good. I just want people to know that even though the side effects are rare, that still means it can happen to you. Listen to your body and sometimes things don't seem to make logical sense. If I had blisters on my body, I have no doubt that my doctor would have said no to continuing the drug at all. He thoguht I was just having panic attacks and a mild rash that would eventually die down. But because I knew that it was not just an ordinary panic attack, I called him. Be careful with this drug because only you know your body best. For example, on the second low-dose day I developed two pimples. I thought they were pimples, but they felt more like blisters. Don't discount something you think is nothing because it could be something. Today after having stopped, the things that I thought were pimples have gone down. I hope this helps someone who reads it who might be feeling the same way or just so they can know to be safe and smart. (This is especially for those patients who may have taken Accutane prior to Lamictal. The evidence of blisters may not occur if your skin has dried up.)

PradaMember

Registered: August 2007Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USAPosts: 26

Fri September 14, 2007

Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 1

PROS:

None

CONS:

Extreme mood instability

I was on this for a month before I stopped taking it on my own(couldn't wait a month to see the doctor). I got progressively more and more irritable and angry. Starting hitting myself, screaming, and laughing for no reason when I took it. Will never take it or recommend it.

MerlinGrand Poohbah

Registered: May 2004Location: Alberta, CanadaPosts: 1815

Sat August 25, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8

PROS:

an anti-depressant mood stabilizer

CONS:

losing efficacy

A few months ago I would have rated it higher, but it no longer seems to be working as well for me.

Anonymous

Sat August 25, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6

PROS:

Doesn't make me sleepy at all!

CONS:

Had some sexual affects but they are decreasing

I'll give it a 6 now because I am two weeks into it at the 25mg dose. I also take Prozac and Adderall. I think I might need Adderall increased because it feels less effective since starting Lamictal.

lhansonJunior Member

Registered: August 2007Posts: 7

Tue August 21, 2007

Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7

PROS:

Helped with depression and mania

CONS:

Caused excessive tiredness

Helped with depression and mania for a while, but didn't completely solve the problem. The sleepiness caused by it was almost unbearable. I'd sleep close to 14 hours a day sometimes. Once I shifted to taking it at night and lowered the dosage, the sleepiness got better. The fact that it has such little side effects is good.